Major chance for Southwell gains
MAJOR SNUGFIT can secure the fifth victory of a profitable campaign in the Free Tips On attheraces.com Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Southwell.
While clearly no star, the fiveyear-old has proved an excellent advertisement for the training skills of Rebecca Menzies, who picked up Major Snugfit from Mick Easterby’s yard a couple of years ago.
He is a bit of a character who rarely wins by far, but that has at least allowed him to stay ahead of the handicapper, as evidenced by three wins on the Flat between late July and early October.
Menzies switched her charge back to the jumping sphere on his most recent outing at Sedgefield - and off what appeared a workable mark, he struck gold with something to spare.
A 5lb rise in the weights might not be enough to prevent him from adding to his tally under Nathan Moscrop, who was on board last time and clearly gets a good tune out of the gelding.
A hat-trick could be in the offing for the Martin Keighley-trained Ten Past Midnight in the preceding Cazoo Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Keighley has his string in good form at the moment, with Ten Past Midnight’s October triumphs at Newton Abbot and Uttoxeter followed by recent winners at Huntingdon, Cheltenham and Chepstow.
The selection has returned from a summer break in rude health, filling the runner-up spot on his reappearance before his back-toback triumphs last month.
Regaby holds obvious claims in the Bet 10 Get 20 With MansionBet Handicap Chase at Sedgefield.
Northern raids have proved fruitful for the Ian Williams inmate this year, with a summer success at Hexham followed by victory over this course and distance just under a fortnight ago.
He proved that day he stays the three miles and three furlongs of the County Durham track well as he made all the running and stuck to his task well to repel the challenge of Diamond Brig by a length.
A 4lb rise is not unreasonable and a repeat performance may be good enough.
Some familiar sprinting names contest the £19,000 Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton, with the vote going to Dave Loughnane’s Fizzy Feet. The five-year-old has been given plenty of time to get over an underwhelming effort at Chester at the start of August and her form suggest she is a far superior horse on the all-weather.